PHEV competition intensifies

According to The Express Tribune, makers of hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles in Pakistan are sharpening price rivalry after recent sales tax changes led them to revise ex-factory rates. Chery Master Pakistan stands out with a customer retention drive that pairs partial tax absorption with pricing on a limited number of units.

Chery is holding its locally assembled Super Hybrid Tiggo line at Rs9.999 million for the Tiggo 7 PHEV, Rs11.499 million for the Tiggo 8 PHEV and Rs14.299 million for the Tiggo 9 PHEV. The company told dealers that buyers could save an estimated Rs950,000 on the Tiggo 7, Rs1.5 million on the Tiggo 8 and Rs1.45 million on the Tiggo 9. These figures place the plug-in SUVs close to, and in certain cases beneath, standard hybrid models after their latest revisions.

Lucky Motor set the new Kia Sportage L 1.6T FWD HEV at Rs12.199 million and the AWD HEV at Rs13.299 million, while the freshly launched Sorento 1.6T AWD PHEV carries a Rs18.999 million price tag. Hyundai Nishat Motor also changed its prices after the federal tax revisions and runs an Independence Day offer valid until August 31, under which the Tucson Hybrid Smart FWD costs Rs12.202 million and the Tucson Hybrid Signature AWD Rs13.300 million. Overall, the report says manufacturers are absorbing part of the added tax to protect volumes, moving competition from new launches toward pricing and customer value.